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Suicide bomb hits Pakistan border | Suicide bomb hits Pakistan border |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A suicide bomber in Pakistan has killed at least 22 guards at a checkpoint in the Khyber Pass on the border with Afghanistan, officials said. | |
The bomber approached on foot as guards were breaking their Ramadan fast, local police said. | |
The blast was the first major attack since the killing of the Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud earlier this month. | |
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says the Khyber Pass is a lifeline for the Nato-led foreign forces in Afghanistan. | |
Lengthy supply convoys pass through every day, and it has been a frequent target for Taliban militants. | |
The blast completely destroyed a tribal police checkpoint at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan's Khyber Agency - the autonomous region linking Pakistan's North West Frontier Province to Afghanistan. | |
Government bullish | Government bullish |
Witnesses said the suicide bomber walked into the police offices and blew himself up at a table spread for Iftar, the traditional breaking of the Ramadan fast. | Witnesses said the suicide bomber walked into the police offices and blew himself up at a table spread for Iftar, the traditional breaking of the Ramadan fast. |
Ali Raza, an official in the administration office, told the Associated Press that he heard a huge explosion in the building next door. | Ali Raza, an official in the administration office, told the Associated Press that he heard a huge explosion in the building next door. |
"We rushed out and saw destruction all around," he said, adding that he helped rush the wounded to a hospital. | "We rushed out and saw destruction all around," he said, adding that he helped rush the wounded to a hospital. |
Several of those injured told Mr Raza that they had seen someone they described as a young boy carrying what looked like jugs of water for the security officers, AP reported, but it could not be confirmed if he was the bomber. | |
The latest attack came hours after a drone attack in South Waziristan killed at least four militants. | The latest attack came hours after a drone attack in South Waziristan killed at least four militants. |
A militant hideout was targeted in the South Waziristan tribal region, Pakistani intelligence officials said, the same region where a strike earlier this month killed Baitullah Mehsud. | A militant hideout was targeted in the South Waziristan tribal region, Pakistani intelligence officials said, the same region where a strike earlier this month killed Baitullah Mehsud. |
Earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said recent army successes in Swat, Waziristan and elsewhere had broken the back of the country's insurgency. | Earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said recent army successes in Swat, Waziristan and elsewhere had broken the back of the country's insurgency. |
In a BBC interview, Mr Malik also said Pakistani intelligence reports suggested that many foreign al-Qaeda fighters were now leaving Pakistan for Somalia, while others were returning to their home countries, including Sudan and Yemen. | In a BBC interview, Mr Malik also said Pakistani intelligence reports suggested that many foreign al-Qaeda fighters were now leaving Pakistan for Somalia, while others were returning to their home countries, including Sudan and Yemen. |
Correspondents say Pakistan's military has made significant advances, but there is still a long way to go before the Taliban and al-Qaeda can be described as being defeated. | Correspondents say Pakistan's military has made significant advances, but there is still a long way to go before the Taliban and al-Qaeda can be described as being defeated. |